Pyridine derivatives

1. A compound of formula (I) of the structure:

wherein:

A is phenyl optionally substituted with one or more of optionally substituted alkyl, halogen, OH, NH 2 , alkylamino-, di(alkyl)amino-, cyano, COOH, (alkoxy)carbonyl-, alkylcarboxy-, (alkyl)carboxamido-, alkylsulfonyl, —C(O)NH 2 , (alkyl)amido-, di(alkyl)amido-, NO 2 , or alkoxy, or A is optionally substituted 5-membered or 6-membered heteroaryl group which contains at least one ring hetero atom selected from the hetero atoms oxygen and nitrogen, wherein the optional substituent is one or more of optionally substituted alkyl, F, Cl, OH, NH 2 , alkylamino-, di(alkyl)amino-, cyano, COOH, (alkoxy)carbonyl-, alkylcarboxy-, alkylsulfonyl, —C(O)NH 2 , (alkyl)amido-, di(alkyl)amido-, NO 2 , or alkoxy;

B is optionally substituted monocyclic 5-membered or 6-membered heteroaryl group which contains at least one ring atom selected from the heteroatoms oxygen, sulphur, and nitrogen, wherein the heteroaryl B is optionally substituted with one or more of optionally substituted alkyl, F, Cl, OH, NH 2 , alkylamino-, di(alkyl)amino-, cyano, COOH, (alkoxy)carbonyl-, alkylcarboxy-, (alkyl)carboxamido-, alkylsulfonyl, —C(O)NH 2 , (alkyl)amido-, di(alkyl)amido-, NO 2 , or alkoxy;

Q is O or NH;

R 1 is:

(a) C 1 to C 4 alkyl; or

(b) two or three methylene fragments that are joined to a carbon atom at the 3-position of the pyridine ring;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.

2. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein A is optionally substituted pyridine.

3. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein B is an optionally substituted pyridine.

4. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein B is of the structure:

wherein:

X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of CR 23 and N;

Z is NR 24 , O or S;

each R 23 is, independently, H, F, Cl, CH 3 , CF 3 or CN; and

R 24 is H or C 1 to C 4 alkyl.

5. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein B is of the structure:

6. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein B is:

7. The compound according to claim 6 , wherein B is:

8. The compound according to claim 7 , wherein B is:

9. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein B is:

10. The compound according to claim 9 , wherein B is:

11. The compound according to claim 4 , wherein B is:

12. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein O represents oxygen.

13. The compound according to claim 1 , in the form of an acid salt.

14. The compound according to claim 13 , wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic, propionic, lactic, citric, tartaric, succinic, fumaric, maleic, malonic, mandelic, malic, phthalic, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, phosphoric, nitric, sulfuric, methanesulfonic, napthalenesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, toluenesulfonic, trifluoroacetic, and camphorsulfonic acid.

15. The compound according to claim 1 , which is:

6′-(1-hydroxy-1-pyridin-4-ylethyl)-3,3′-bipyridine-6-carbonitrile;

5-[5-(1-hydroxy-1-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl)thien-2-yl]-1-methyl-pyridin-2(1H)-one;

(R)-5-[5-(1-Hydroxy-1-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyridin-2-one;

(S)-5-[5-(1-Hydroxy-1-pyridin-4-yl-ethyl)-thiophen-2-yl]-1-methyl-1H-pyridin-2-one;

1-[2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]-1-(pyridin-4-yl)-propan-1-ol;

(R)-1-[2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]-1-(pyridin-4-yl)-propan-1-ol;

(S)-1-[2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]-1-(pyridin-4-yl)-propan-1-ol;

1-[2-(6-fluoropyridin-3-yl)-1,3-thiazol-5-yl]-1-(pyridin-4-yl)-ethanol;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)propyl)thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

1-(5-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)oxazol-2-yl)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)propan-1-ol;

5-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)furan-2-yl)-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one;

5-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)oxazol-2-yl)-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one;

1-(6′-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)-[3,3′-bipyridin]-6-yl)pentan-1-one; or

1-(pyridin-4-yl)-1-(2-(pyrimidin-5-yl)thiazol-5-yl)ethanol.

16. The compound according to claim 1 , which is:

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)propyl)thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-hydroxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

4-(5-(1-amino-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)thiazol-2-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile;

5-(5-(1-amino-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl)thiophen-2-yl)-1-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one; or

1-(2-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)thiazol-5-yl)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)propan-1-amine.

17. The compound according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is the hydrochloride, 4-methylbenzene sulfonic acid, benzene sulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, sulfuric acid or nitric acid salt.

18. The compound according to claim 1 , which is 1-(2-(4-fluorophenyl)-thiazol-5-yl)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)propan-1-ol.

19. The compound 1-(2-(5-cyano-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)thiazol-5-yl)-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethyl acetate, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.

20. A method for inhibiting CYP17, said method comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or claim 19 to a patient in need thereof.

21. A method of treating cancer in a patient, said method comprising administering a compound of claim 1 or claim 19 to said patient, wherein said cancer is prostate cancer.